Tribute – Sgt. Richard Etchberger, Who Received Medal of Honor Posthumously for Heroics at Secret Site in 1968 – History Net, Vietnam magazine – Posted 15 Feb 11
“…In March 1968, Etchberger and 15 airmen—along with two CIA officers and a forward air controller—were living at Lima Site 85 in Laos. This was a highly secret radar facility needed by the USAF to direct strike missions in Laos and North Vietnam…”
The building of Lima Site 85 in Phou Pha Thi, Laos was for air tactical support for the Vietnam War. The tragedy at this site was the single largest ground combat loss of USAF personnel during the Vietnam conflict. Video courtesy of CAT/Air America, University of Texas at Dallas.
About Roger Young
Roger "Bear" Young served with the Silver Spurs as a Scout crew chief and Line Chief from Dec '69 through Nov '70. Upon his return to the "world" he served at Hunter AAF as a Cobra Periodic Inspection team leader. He founded the Spur website in Sept 1997.
When I was active in the POW issue, Pam and I did a lot of research on Lima Site 85 and had the honor to meet Ann Holland, wife of Mel Holland, who was at the site when it fell and whose body was never recovered.
The real tragedy is MACV knew the site was being surrounded by the NVA and wanted to evacuate all personnel. Lao Ambassador Sullivan refused and the site was overrun leaving many questions about those men who didn’t escape and were never recovered.